Automatically folding play yard



Sept 19,` 1950 H. J. LANDRY 2,523,124

yAu'rommICALLY FOLDING PLAY YARD IN VEN TOR.

Hz'zry J.' Landry BY l H. J. LANDRY AUTOMATICALLY FOLDING PLAY YARD Sept. 19, 195o 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1949 INVENTOR.

Vr la? .wf EMM Afatentecl 4Sept. l?, 1950 l UNITED' ,STATES `PA'rrrrr OFFICE 2,523,124 i AU'roMA'rIoALLY noLnING rrLAir YARD Henry J. Landry, South Ashburnham, Mass.

Application April 27, 1949, serial No. 89,830

y This invention relates to automatically folding play yards and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a folding play yard having a pair of ends interconnected by in- `folding sides, and having a floor comprising a-l pair of members hinged atl opposite edges to the y vdoor members for the purpose of causing one floor member to rise with the other, so that by i 'standing at one end of the play yard, the operator can raise one oor member and thereby cause the other floor member to automatically rise therewith.

Another object ofthe invention includes the 7 claims.

, "provision ofia device as above described wherein one of `the door members is 'provided'with an operating element secured thereto at the bottom thereof, and having pivoted thereonk aV link which extendslaterally of the "play yard to a position approximately midway thereof and about at the 25 nating adjacent the edge of the second floor member which is hinged to the opposite end of the play yard, said second link being pivoted to a kbracket which depends from the said second hinged floor member, the interaction of this linka'gebeing such that when the first floor member, having the operating member, is actuated thereby to be raised about its hinges, the second iioor member is also raised on its hinges, whereby both floor members will lie ilatly against the play yard ends to which they are hinged.

Another object of the invention includes the provision of a play yard as above stated, ineluding a lever slidably associated with the above identied floor member operating element and arranged to slide, transversely thereof, said lever being pivoted in a universal manner to an adjamaintaining the interpivoted links in raised position and preventingvcollapse thereof, when the floor members are in unfolded, useful position, Asaid lever operating to aid in breaking the pivot joint between the two links during the folding operation; and the provision of a spring connected between one of the links and its adjacent oor member for the same purpose and usable 'alternatively with respect to the lever as will more fully appear hereinafter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a play yard according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the iioor members in partly folded condition.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 and showing the oor members in' almost fully folded condition;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view with parts broken away yof one end of the play yard;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the play yard partially extendedand illustrating the position of the lever;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of a play yard showing the same in unfolded condition ready for use; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views showing the pivot breaking lever.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a play yard according to the present invention, the same having a front end member I Il, and a rear end member I2, these members being substantially rigid and each having at its ends upright posts I4 and I6 respectively. Each post is provided with vertical hinges IE to which is secured an in-folding side member, indicated at 2D, 22, 24, 26 respec- '1 centfin-folding side member for the purpose of `folding the play yard. Members 20, 22, 24 and 2G may be held in extended condition by pivoted links 32, these being well known in the art.

Each rigid end member It and I2 hingedly mounts a oor member, these being indicated at 34 and 3S respectively, as by hinges indicated at 38. The floor members when unfolded present a dividing line 40. It is to be understood that the floor members 34 and 36 may be swung upwardly from theirk Fig. 1 position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 whereby the sidesmay be folded inwardly so as to completely fold the play yard into a small space, see Fig. 5. Inwardly extending brackets 42 may be used to support the oor members and one member may extend under the other as at 4 4 to aid in supporting the same.

The pivotedfloor member 36 is provided with a foot operating member 46 extending transversely thereof and underlying the same as indicated at 48, see Figs. 3 and 4. When the foot member 46 is stepped on, the floor member 36 is raised about its hinges 38 to a certain extent, as to the extent indicated in Fig. 3; and, of course, it is then a simple matter for the operator to grasp the free edge of the floor member 36 as indicated at 50 in Fig. 3 and complete the folding operation thereof to an upright position against the rigid end member l2.

Member 48 has pivoted theretoat 52 a link 54, in turn pivoted at 56'to another link `58, the latter terminating in a pivot joint 60 onv a bracket 62 secured to the bottom and offset from the plane of the floor element 34. AIiin-k'54 extends a distance beyond the end of link 56 to a point`64, and is provided with an out turnedilip E61-which overlies the corresponding part of link A58 so as to prevent downward pivoting of "the point "56, but allowing upward pivoting thereof as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. A spring 68 may be sevcured to the bottom of the floor member 34 or the bracket 62, and to the-link-5B- Assuming the play yard to be in unfolded position for use, as in Figs. l-and 2, and .it being desired to fold the same Yit is necessary only to step on the foot element 46, thus swinging up floor element36, see Fig. 3. This-action, through linkage 54, 58, starts pivoted oor element 34 on the way up and when the parts get to the'Fig. 3 position, the operator grasps the free edge of floor 4 the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. Automatically ,folding play yard comprising a pair of rigid ends, a pair of folding sides hinged to and connecting the ends, and a pair of separate folding floor members each hinged to one of the ends, and an interconnecting linkage between and secured to both floor members, said linkage being effective to cause movement of one oor -member to 'be communicated to theother floor member.

2. Automatically folding play yard comprising 'a pair of rigid ends, .a pair of folding sides hinged member 36 at 50 and continues the swinging motion of this floor member to completely folded :condition which results in the other floor element 5 34 being folded upright against the rigid end element IU.

Toward the end of this movement, the spring l6B, ibeing extended, acts as a cushion and also A'serves to break the pivoted .joint "56 so that the ylatter also starts up. This motion is continued and completed by the action of the operation in folding the sides 20, 26, and 22, -24, drawing'the rigid ends l0 and I2 together.

' As an alternative construction, spring |68 may be-done away with, and in this case, there is provided a'lever v'I0 which is universally pivoted to .the bottom rail of the pivoted side `26 as b'y two pivots T2 'and`14 and a hinge '75, and is slid- 4i'ng'ly arranged in abracket 'i6 on'member 43, -seeparticularly'Fig '7.

In this case, as the floor member 36 moves upfwardly, the edge of thelever l0 approaches the underside of the links 54, that is, the relationship of the part changes from the Fig. 1 posiytion wherein the lever'l is relatively remote from link 54, to the position'of Figs. 4`and 8 wherein :the lever l0 approaches closely and finally hits 'theunderneath edge of link 54, having the effect 'of forcing the hinge 'connection 516 upwardly just enough to break it to'allow the infolding sides to come in and continuethe upward motion of vthe pivot joint156 so as to'allow complete nesting 'of the parts. When the play yard is completely "folded as in Fig. '5, 'the link 54 lies along and parallel to element'4'8 and the floor elements, the -foot element and the two links are in vertical po- ""s'iti'n.

*As shown in broken-linesin Fig. 3, the link- 'age 54, 58 is horizontalwhenthe yard `is unfolde'd Yand-is kept fin "this condition -by lip 66, Iso that'the floor members 34 and 36-a`re sup- .ported by thelinkage, yandino other center sup- 'lfport is necessary for the-use ofthe yard.

Having thus described Imyf Ainvention and the advantages thereof, Ido'not wish tobe limited to to and connecting the ends, and a pair of separate folding licor members each hinged to one of the-ends, an'dfan interconnecting linkage between and secured to both iioor members, said linkage being effective to cause movement of one iioor -member to be communicated to the other floor member, said linkage comprising a link :pivoted -tofone floor memberand a second link Apivoted to the first link `and to the other floor member, at a point offset .from the hinge pivot line thereof.

3. Automatically folding play yard'comprising apair of rigid ends, a: pair of folding sides hinged to-and connecting theends, and a pair of separatefolding floor members each hinged to lone of the ends, and an` interconnecting linkage-between and secured to both floor members, said linkage being-effective to cause movement of one -oor member -to be communicated to the other floor member, saidlinkage comprisinga Vpair of interpivoted links, means to -maintain the links in rigid relation, and means `effective to break the pivot joint'thereof near the termination of the lfolding-motion. v

4. The play yard of claim 3 wherein said last namedmeans is as pring.

5. The play yard of claim -3 wherein said last named means comprises a bar and means effective tocause the bar to strike one of the links at a predetermined point injthe movement thereof.

6.-Automatically folding play yardl comprising Iapair of rigid ends,a pair of folding sides hinged to and connecting the ends,.and a pair of separate folding floor 'members each hinged to one Yof the-ends,- an operating member secured to and underlying one floor member and extending outwardly to a position to lbe engaged by the op- `erator,fa link pivoted to the operating member, a second link pivoted to the rst link,and a dependingbracket on the other iioor member, the second link being pivoted thereto.

7. Automatically folding .play vyard comprising apair of-rigid ends,` a-pair of folding sides hinged to and connecting lthe-ends, and a pair of separate folding floor 'members each hinged to one )ofthe ends, Va linkage secured'to and between the Vfloor members, said linkage being foldable upwardly, and means 'to prevent the linkage from folding downwardly, "the `oor elements resting on`the linkage in unfolded horizontal condition.

The following references are of record'in .the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number l Name Date 2,224,310 Merret't Dec. 10, 1940 2,489,188 'Landry Nov. 22, 1949 

